Method and apparatus for treating cloth



Dec. 4, 1934. H. A. woonHr-:AD

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING CLOTH 5 Sheets-Sheet l ,Filed June 6,1955 Dec. 4, 1934.

H. A. WOODHEAD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING CLOTH Filed June 6.1955 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR 17e/zr gli WWII/:fad

Dec. 4, 1934.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TR-EATING CLOTH Filed June 6, 1953y 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR K H.. A. wooDHEAD l 1,982,720 l out atestlaundering operation on a unit portion- -Patented Dec. 4, 1934 yUNITED? STATES 1,9s2,7'zo Y METHOD AND APPARATUS Foa .TaEATmG CLOTHHenryA. Woodhead, Granitevllle, S. C.

ApplicationJune-G, 1933, Serial No'.` 674,495

42 Claims. (Cl. 26-38) Myinvention relates to process and apparatus forpre-shrinking cloth` for the purpose of substantially eliminating insubsequent laundering operations shrinkage in both warpl and weft.

More particularly my invention relates to process and apparatus formechanically diminishing the superficial extent of the web andreadjusting the yarn components by positive and closely controlledmechanical operations which may be performed as part of the fabricfinishing operations orsubsequent thereto. These operations may becarried out in my process and by means of my apparatus in a sure andeffective manner to obtain in a fabric dimensions and characteristicswhich have been predetermined by carrying of the fabric. Furthermore,the dimensions and characteristics imposed upon the fabric by my processand apparatus may be varied easily as Idesired Within relatively widelimits so thatnot only can specific conditions be positively imposed onthe web under treatment, but also these conditions can be Avaried easilyto become adaptable to modifying circumstances. y

The early methods of pre-shrinking consisted essentially in wetting thecloth and hanging it 'in loops from carrier frames and allowing it to.remain in this condition until shrinking had taken place.Notwithstanding an unsatisfactory pre-shrink was obtained as only aboutonehalf of the normal shrinkage of the cloth was taken up in this mannerand, furthermore,` the fabric resulting from this operation did not havea finished appearance and further operations f .were necessary in orderto make .it satisfactory to the trade. l

Other pre-shrinking operations have veloped in an attempt to getawayfrom this preshrinking by wetting. 'Certain Vof these subsequentoperations consisted in imposing an excessive crinkle on one set ofyarns by pulling outv orstraightening the Opposite set of yarns. Thiswas accomplishe'dby treating the web on a tentering frame, stretching itweftwise, while allowing Aa takeup warpwise.' I'he operation, it istrue, gave a pre-shrunk condition warpwise but allowed an excessiveamount ofshrinking weft wise. Attempts to avoid this condition consistedin following the weft stretching operation with 55 -shrunk material..Usually fabric processed in a moistening step, the purpose being topermit These opera'- this manner had an excessive shrinkage in onedirection with substantially no shrinkage in the opposite direction and,furthermore, the control of the pre-shrinking imposed upon the materialwas diflcult to maintain and, as a result, a product-'having undesirablecharacteristics was obtained. v

' Another type of apparatus which has been used in carrying out apre-shrinking operation has been one which makes use of a thick blanketlto lwhich the web under treatment is affixed while the blanket isflexed inv such a position that the surface to which the web is afxed isconvex. The blanket is then flexed to a-concave position and due to itsconsiderable thickness, its surface is Vdiminished and thus the webaiilxed to it is diy minished'to` a degree in surface in one direction.This setting operation is usually carried out on well known equipmentsuch, as a Palmer dryer except that the blanket used is made thickerthan is usual with such equipment. The disadvantages, however, of thistype 'of apparatus are many.l The blankets, are of such thickness thatthere is a great amount of internal wear which gives them a relativelyshort life. As theyare an 80 expensive element of the equipment, this isdisadvantageous. Furthermore, such blanket dexing apparatus is notreadily adaptable to processing different types of material as there isno means for controlling or adjusting the amount of U reverse fiexuregiven to the blanket without considerable diiflculty. Also, theoperation can only be carried out subsequent to a finishing operation inview of the fact that the blanket and the ironing part of the equipmentmust be kept free from any 90 -ition., It is necessary for the blanketto be kept 4relatively porous for it holds the web against a 95 heateddryingdrum and the moisture to be removed in a setting operation mustpass out through Ithe blanket. This blanket contracting operation whichdiminishes the web warpwise has sometimes been used with other equipmentwhich attempts 'to control the width weftwise. It -is seen, therefore,that there have been many objections to these pre-shrinking operationsboth as to process and apparatus and, furthermore, a satisvfactorypre-shrunk materiall has not been ob tained. Also, there has been nodelicate and positive control for carrying out the vpre-shrinkingloperations as adjusted to various types oi' material. v I f no By myinvention the objections set forth above are avoided.

An object ofmy invention is to obtain a positive, continuous,pre-shrinking operation which is effective under al1 conditions.

Another object of my invention is to obtain an apparatus which isrelatively simple to operate and which is leffective in positivelyimposing a suitable pre-shrunk condition in a web.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from my followingspecific description and drawings which, however, are for the purposesof illustration only, and to which I do not wish to be limited.

Figure 1 of` my drawings is a diagrammatic outline of a form of mypre-shrinking apparatus suitable for carrying out my process.

Figure 1a is a.l continuation of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail of the compression roll and upper roll ofFigure 1.

vFigure 31s a detail taken at 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail of a modified form of my apparatus. v y

Figure 5 is a broken detailed view in perspective of a supportingsurface.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic outline of a modification of my pre-shrinkingapparatus.

Figure '7 is an outline of another modification oLmy device.

Figure 8 is also an outline of a modification oi' my device.

Figure 9 is a detailed view of a portion of Figure 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like referencecharacters denote like parts, Figures .1 and 1a indicate in simpliiiedoutline a side elevational' view of a preferred form of my apparatussuitable for carrying out my preshrinking process and there is indicatedby the dotted line 10 the center line of a fabric or web passing throughthis apparatus. The web first passes between the sizing rolls 11 and 12.'Ihese rolls are driven from a power source 12a which Ipermits a closecontrol and variation in their speed of rotation and thus permits acontrol of the rate at which the web 10 passes into the apparatus. A Thelower roll 12 dips into' the sizing trough 13 and carries sizingmaterial on its surface upto the zone a in the niplwhere it is pressedinto the web 10. The application of this size converts the web from itsoriginal dry condition into a plastic soft condition.

It is to be understood, of course, that ,various modications of thissizing apparatus may be used. The web may, for example, be led directlylinto sizing bath 13 and then pass through the rolls as in a slopstarched operation. The sizing used may be of any desired type,depending upon the particular characteristics to beimparted to the webin its finished condition. Starch, dextrin, gums and soluble oilscustomary in finishing operations may be used.

The spacing of the rolls may be adjusted in the usual manner by thecontrol 14. The web, after passing through finishing sizing operationsgoes over idler rolls 15 and 16, and around a tensioning roll 17 andanother idler roll 18. The tension roll 1'1 is carried by a bar 19connected to' the frame 20 and pivoting at the point 6. If slackdevelops in the web after passing through the sizing rolls, the tensionroll 17 tends to drop down and take up such slack. The tension imposedby the roll-17 on the web may be regulated if desired, for example, byweighting means, not shown, on the bar 19.

intermediate?? and I have'shown the' web after passing over the roll 18as being brought into contact with a means for stretching it weftwise.'I'his step will not necessarily "always'be found essential to thedriven or undriven belt cxpanders or driven edge gripping rolls actingas expanders.

The web is delivered from'the expanding means on to a supporting surface23. 'I'his supporting surface can best be seen from the perspective-detail of the apparatus indicated at Figure 5. In

my preferred formthis surfacexis made up of a series of sectionsextending across the width of the rolls of an endless continuous cord.'Ihis cord passes around the rolls 24, 25 and 26 and bears against anupperroll 27, the operation of which will be later described. vThis cordis wound around these rolls a suiilcient number of times tosubstantiallycover them with only narrow intermediate spaces. Thewindings run, for example, in the grooves 28 on the idler rolls. Thesecord grooves extend over the surface of these rolls for any desiredwidth such as, for example, something greater than the width of the webusually run.v In many cases this width may approximate 40". AIt isnecessarythat the supporting surface formed4 by this continuous cordshould be even at all times and this result is accomplished bymaintaining a tension upon the cord windings suiiicient to avoid'slackness in any cord winding, particularlythe portion forming thesurface c where it is in actual contact with the plastic web. 'Ihisslackness is avoided by maintaining a tension on a single strand asindi-- I have shown in the modification of Figure 1 that this tensionmay be lapplied by hanging a weight '34soastoactontheroll25.Thecordmaybe of any tough material which is not unduly softened bywetting and which has good wearing qualities. By means of this ent I amable to obtain an endless supporting surface having intermediate andcontinuous interstices and which has an even and uniform tension overits entire operatrve surface. Other means may be used to obtain asupporting surface. Ii' deisired,itmaybemadeupofaseries ofresilientbelts or ametallic maybeused.

Theweb 10iscarriedbythissurface23andpassesbetweentheupperrollmandalcwerroll 35. Thelowerrol135,ascanbeseenfrom detailFigures2-and3,ismadeupinthefou-millustratedbyaseriesofthintootheddiscshaving intermediate spacers 37extending nearly to the outer toothed portion of the discs 38erablyareiitteduponashaftaandpressed meriassumer-v tightly together intova rigid position and so retained. It will be noted that due'to the factthat thespacingvdiscs 37 do not extend out to the outer periphery of thetoothed discs that grooves are left between the toothed discs. It is inthese grooves that' the'series of cord lops or belts forming' thesupporting surface 23 pass. It

should also be noted that the grooves are of sufficient depth tol permitthe teeth 36a of the' discs 36 to extend through and beyond the surface2,3 when the loops lie within the grooves. The teeth 36a have beensomewhat exaggerated in Figure 2 for the purposes of illustration. Thesetoothed discs are preferablymade of stainless steel and the teeth 36adesigned to` penetrate the cloth and yarn components or at least firmlygrip Ait without 4injuring or tearing. These teeth 36a arepreferably'relatively fine, pointed at their -ends and lbeveled on thesides to perrnit'ea'sy penetration.

'I'he teeth are also preferably undercut about 15 degrees from theradius to obtain a firm grip on the fabric to be treated and yet topermit a withdrawal of the web or fabric from the toothed roll withouttearing. The upper roll 27 is preferablyv made of rubber to allow theteeth to bear against it, if desired, without injuring them. Also .therubber surface when wet is slippery and permits the slippage of the webover its surface as will be later described.

The upper roll 27 and the roll 24 driving the supporting surface rotateat the same surface velocity, and thus the portion of t e supportingsurface 23 where lit bears against t e upper roll 27 within the zone e,travels at the same rate as the roll 27. These rolls 24 and 27 may bedriven through a positive drive from the same source as the drive forthe drying cans which will be later described'as indicated in Fig. 4, bythe means 77a,

i 771), and- 77e.' The toothed roll 35 can also be drivenby.the means77d through idler gears by the roll 27. However, the intermediatedriveof the roll 35 is so arranged by means of gears or otherwise that theroll 35 has a greater surface velocity than the roll' 27 and thesupporting surface 23. The toothed ro1l35 is preferably driven -by agear which can be quickly and easilychanged thin vspaced' discs, I donot wish to be so limited.

The primary object of this roll is to secure a firm grip upon the clothto force it forwardv and also 4to work the cloth which facilitates thereadiustment of the component yarns mechanically and causes arearrangement ofthem to` a pre-shrunk condition. It is preferable tohave a roll which has the penetrating and working action of -my tootheddisc roll. 'However,'it is possible to use a roll covered with cardclothing in which the wire bristles are the effective agents. Also, ifvdesired .the roll may be covered with an abrasive faster rate thanthewebis beingcarried between the roll 27 and a supportingsurface 23 inthe zone e.- The operations carried out upon the web between 'the zonesc-and e are` later 4described in detail. The supporting surface, asalready pointed out, 'passes over the roll ,24 and continues down to theidler roll 25 and thence around the roll 26 into position in the zone cagain. The roll 26 is adapted to bemoved up and down to 'vary the gripor bind on the web 10 between the roll 27 and the surface 23 as desired.

y The web is delivered from the confinement in the zone e and from theroll 24 on to a canvas band 39 which is carried at that point byA anidler roll 40. This canvas band carries the web to a series of heateddrying cans 41. The web is further supported by a second endless canvasband 42 carried by appropriate guides and rolls 43 which comes incontact with its opposite side before reaching the first of the dryingcans 41. 'The compressed web thus is dried between two supportingsurfaces and is set in its treated condition without -being subject tofurtherY strain. At the end of the series of drying cans 41, the canvasbands separate'and the web is carried by one of them by means ofappropriate guide rolls 44 to an oscillating device 45 which folds thefinished fabric into suitable piles 46 in the bins 47.

I have shown in Figure 4 a detail of a modification of my apparatus inwhich the web l0 passes Y over a means for stretching it weftwise, inthis case indicated as expander rollsl 21a and 22a, sima more completeentrance of the fine teeth of theroll 35 into the fabric web. The cordsof the supporting surface ,23 continue around the upper roll 27through"q the zone e in thesame manner `as described in connection withthe apparatus of Figure 1. The web is delivered to the canvas band 39carrying the web to the drying cans 41 also in the same manner.

I nage indicated also in Figure 4 another means for obtaining a positivetensioning of the supporting surface '23. In this case I have shown thelower roll 25 around which the series of cord loops pass as having itstensioning pressure controlled by a screw mechanism 48 which bearsagainst the frame 20 and thejournal of the roll 2.5. By this means I amable to exert a positive and tremendous pressure on the roll 25 and thusobtain a ing out my pre-shrinking operation. The web 10 In Figure 8, Ihave shown an outline of another modification of an apparatus suitablefor carry` the ten-v may be delivered from the weftstretchingorlexpanding means indicated by the Areferencecharacter 49tothe nip between a roll 50 and a roll 51. The roll`50'correspondsgenerally to the resilient upper roll 27 'of Figure 1 and the roll 51 ispreferably a roll similargin operation to the roll 35 of Figure 1. Alsol,passing between. these vrolls 'is a'supporting surface 52 preferablyof a type similar in operation to the supporting-surf face 23 of Figure5so as to permit the roll 51 to operate on' theweb through it.. Thissupporting v' surface 52- is driven and is carried by suitable idlerrolls 53.- The supporting surface carries the web around the roll 5 0is'a band 54. This band 54 which may be of canvas, against which the web10 lies, supports it after its delivery from the zone y and carries itovera guide roll 55 which positions the canvas band and web 10 in closecontact with the large drying drum 56. The web is supported by thecanvas band and held in contact with the drying drum 56 until-it is setafter which it is delivered fromthe drum and passes around the idlerrolls 57 and 58, while still supported bythe 54 is directed around adrying drum 61 by suitable idler rolls and continues back around theroll 50." It will be noted that by means of this arrangement the web iscontinuously supported at all points until it is set and delivered in adry finished vcondition into the bin 60. There is thus no loss of thepre-shrunk characteristics which have been impartedto it during itsprocessing.

In Figure 7 I have disclosed an outline of a modification of anapparatus suitablefor carrying out my process which, while it makes useof a working roll similar in operation to theroll 35 of Figure l-foroperating upon the fabric, yet it has eliminated the supporting surfacewhich moves'at the same surface velocity as the fabric and cooperatingroll'and which holds the web between restraining surfaces. In thismodification as illustrated in Figure 7, the web 10 can be deliveredfrom a weft expanding means of any desired type, 4indicated by thereference character 62." This web isdelivered into the nip betweengoperation with -a drying drum 66,;and suitable 'guide and idler rollsas well as drying drums are provided as indicated in Figure 6. I provideas a means for holding the web against the band 65, flexible wire orspring like members 67 which may be. attached to a support 68 extendingacross the length of the rolls and parallel thereto. Ihe

resilient retaining means 67 pass between the discsv of the roll 63 forexample and lie in recesses therebetween in substantially the samemanner as the cords already described and indicated in Figure 5. -Themembers 67 extend out beyond the nip a considerable distance and liesubstantially parallel with the canvas bands supporting surface 65 ascan be seen at the retaining zone h. The surface velocity of the roll 64and band 65 is the same as that of the web 10 within thezone h and, ofcourse, is the same as surface velocity of the drying drum 66. Thesurface velocity, however, of the toothed roll 63 is greater than thatof the roll 64 and as a consequence the web is worked upon and shovedforward and compressed in substantially the same manner asin theoperation of my device described in cor-.nec-

tion with Figure l, except that the upper surface formed by the flexiblemember 67 extending through' the' toothed rolls is not nidyabl sind theweb slides along over this surface. However, these membersmay be made ofa flexible material such as stainless steel and do notexert any materialfrictional resistance upon 'the web particularly when it is `in aplastic moist condition d ue 'to a starch sizing operation. The web is'carried by the close contact with a drying drum`66 bythe canvas band 65.After the material has'been properly dried and set and is in a finishedcondition, it is hand 65. through the zone h and is delivered intodelivered to suitable containers, similar'to. the

manner indicated in Figure 6.

In Figures 8 and 9 I have indicated also somewhat diagrammaticallyanother modification of my device. In this apparatustheweb may bedelivered directly on to a suitable working or friotion member'from'weftexpanding means or from other "prior processing equipment.- 'I'heworking roll 69 may be of the same type as the toothed disc roll35already described or may be made for `tudinally extending spaceportions' rfree from wire bristles.- I have indicated in my drawings theuse of such card cloth. The web 10 is maintained in Aexample `from cardcloth`having 'narrowjlongiclose contact with this card cloth by means.of

fiat curved spring-like members 'l0 which at space intervals hold theweb to be treated against the. f`

a' revolving drum 72 which may, if desired, be 1 covered with resilientmaterial or padding. This drum has following a portion of its surfacecurvature a heated polishedironing device 73 which has means 74 forsupplying heat to the same.l At the lower portion of this smoothpolished ironing means 73 there are spaced teethv 75 which' are adaptedto fit into the narrow' spaced portions on' the card cloth which arefree from bristles. These teeth 75, therefore, penetrate below thesurface or outer periphery of the friction roll 69 and thus act to liftthe web l0 from this roll.y The free spaces or grooves on the frictionroll 69`can be seen at 76 of Figure 9 and also' the teeth I75. can belseen extending into these grooves. In operationthe cloth in a plasticcondition is' delivered ont'o this friction roll, if desired, at theproper width after having passed through means for `stretching the webweftwise.- The friction roll 69 is driven at a greater surface velocitythe roll 72 and thus the web is delivered from the i roll 69 at agreater speed than it is taken away by the roll 72. Furthermore, the webis held into close contact with the frictionrollby means of the.flexible curved members 70 and thus' there is a working and penetratingaction on the sur- 'face of cloth which further facilitates adjustmentsin superficial dimensions to apre-shrunk condition. After the cloth haspassedin between .the drum 72 and the curvedheated ironing means and 6.'I have shown in connection with these several apparatuses anexaggerated view of cross section'of a fabric material. This has beendone for the purposes of illustration only and is not to be consideredas indicating necessarily the actual' modications imposed upon thefabric.

A In my process of mechanical working, the

treated fabric is forced into a contracted and rewhich I obtain bymechanically working rapidly and positively. My process forpre-shrinking is preferably carried outv at such a point in theprocessing of the fabricthat no further operation is necessary whichwill destroy pre-shrunk advantages obtained. I thus preferablycarry outmy.preshrinking operations as part of the finishing operation upon afabric.

In my preferred process the fabric isdelivered to the rolls 11 and 12which carry out a sizing operation on the web or fabric 10 and convertthe fabric to a plastic condition., This step in the process isperformed after the usual preliminary steps of singeing, removing thewarp sizing, dyeing, mercerizing, bleaching, printing, drying or othercustomary operations have been performed upon the web. The fabric may bemade plastic by merely moistening or may be processed in a wet conditionresulting from some preliminary operation. In any `event to have the webin the most suitable condition for carrying out my mechanicalpre-shrinking operation, Iprefer to have it in a plastic condition,although with certain conditions and types of fabric, a' dry operationmay be carried out. The web when in a plastic condition is moreeasily/adaptable by means of my tensioning mechanism 17 and 19. I alsocan control this weft shrinkage by varying the differential in surfacevelocities between the web feeding rolls 11 and 12 on one hand,r and thetoothed compression roll 35. For example, it is possible to drive thetoothed working roll 35 which firmly grips'the cloth at such a-speed asto make it pull against the cloth delivered to it by thefeed roll 1 /1and 12 over and above the normal warp tension on the web in processing.On the other hand, I can drive the rolls 11 and 12 at a greater surfacevelocity than the roll 35 and thus minimize the tension on the' webbetween these two points.

The web after passing between the control rolls 11 and 12 may be foundto have the desired width in which case it canbe delivered directly tothe working roll 35. If, however, the web is found to have a greaterWidth than desired, it may be reduced weftwise by imposing a tension onit warpwise as' described between the control rolls 11 and 12 and the.working roll 35.

For the purposes of illustration I have described a pre-shrinkingoperation in which the web is narrower, that is more contractedweftwise, than desired and, therefore, it is stretched weftwise to adesired width. In this operation I prefer-` ably pass the web whilestill in its plastic condition over a weft stretching means and removethat portion of weft shrinkage which I desire. That is, I4 stretch theweft back to the desired width normally present in the final pre-shrunkmaterials. If desired, I may use a driving mechanism for the weft andstretching means and thus eliminate the warp tension induced by frictionin passing the web over such expander roll as indicated at 20, 21 and 22of Figure 1 for example. This weft stretching should be carried out todeliver the web -to the toothed compression roll at that width which Ihave found will be present in a fabric which has been properly preshrunkin two directions; For example, a

yard lof grey .materialv which had an original woven width of. 3l mayhave a width of only 27" upon `delivery to the size rolls 11 and l2.This would be due to the drawing out of the 'web warpwise bythepreliminary operation carried out in processing. The desired and propershrunk dimensions which can be determined by performing a normallaunder- 'ing operation upon a square yard cloth maybe found to be 33"by 291/2". Therefore, I draw'out the web weftwise by means of theexpander rolls 20, 21 and`22 to 291/2" in Width. The Web is thendelivered immediately to the Working roll which rearranges the fabric toa Warpwise dimension of 33" in length. The weft dimension is unaffectedand remains at 291/2". This is accomplished by always supporting the webuntil it is in/a final set condition for marketing and thus eliminatingall warpwise tension.

There may be, of course, a certain loss in the weft of the materialafter its discharge from the expanding means 20, 21 and 22 due to thewarp tension which must be imposed upon the material to pull it throughsuch equipment when not driven. This loss can be taken care of byover-stretching in width an amount equal to the subsequent loss in Widthdue to the warp tension. For example, if the loss in width intransferring to the zone c is found to be about 20%, the fabric may beover-stretched an equivalent amount and thus a desired Width of the webobtained on the supporting surface 23.

Another means for avoiding such loss and ob'- taining a positive andaccurately controlled weft dimension would be to use a weft stretchingmechanism which was driven, and. thuseliminate the warp strain due tothe resistance of friction inv driving such equipment. For example, adriven belt stretcher may be used or driven edge gripping rolls.

In the modification of my apparatus indicated in Figure 4, I have shownan arrangement for substantially avoiding such loss in weft by obtaininga support for the stretched web substantially immediately upon itsdelivery from the weft stretching means.

'I'he weft stretched plastic web is carried by the supporting surface 23and no further warp tension is permitted on the Web. Thus its weftdimension will be preserved as completely as possible until 'the web isdelivered into the nip between the toothedcompression roll 35 and theresilient upper roll 2'1. 'The supporting surface 23 formed by theseries of loopsof the cord 23 and the upper roll 27 travel at the samesurface velocity. The cords of thesupporting surface 23 are held in aposition by roll 24 to bear against the upper roll 27 over a portion ofits surface as indicated by the reference character e andthus the web isprevented from flexing while retained between these two surfaces. On theother hand', the roll35f operation is not the important factor in pre-q-Vin crinkle of the yarn components.

travels at a greater speed thanl the surface 23 and the roll 27 andthus-ata greater speed than the web 10 when within the zone e.

The teeth of the thin discs making up the roll l35 should be adapted tothe material which .is being run. Preferably these discs have teeth ofsomething less than one-sixteenth of van inch in depth and are cut backat an angle of about 15 from the line of the radius of the disc. 'I'heouter edges of the discs have a double bevel so that the teeth have thinpoints adapted to easily penetrate the cloth and its` yarn componentsand withdraw from it without` tearing. 'If desired, a

tions. In carrying-out a laundering operation,-

there is a considerable variety of strains imposed upon the fabric whenit is in a soft plastic condition. It is, for example. pulled andcrumpled and subjected to tensioning strains at angles to the warp andweft. This considerable working in laundering permits a completereadjustment, rearrangement and reconstituting of the yarns and theirfibers making up the fabric and it is this readjustment which is one ofthe primary causes for a change in dimension in a fabric uponlaundering. It is possible, for example, to have a fabric actuallyincrease in a dimension upon laundering. This condition arises when thefabric has been contracted mechanically in a superiicial dimension to agreater amount than the fabric would Vnormally assume by laundering.Such a web upon being laundered assumes its normal, laundered state ofequilibrium and the overly contracted dimension is found to haveincreased. I have found that a material portion of the results which Iobtain in diminishing the superficial extent of a web is due to thereadjustment and rearrangement which takes place within and between thecomponent yarns of such web, and can be distinguished 'in part from anactual increase It should be kept in mind that it is possible to increase the number of crinkles per inch over those normally present in thefabric as woven without perhaps increasing the amount of crinkle, thatis, without increasing the angularity of the undulations or crinkles ofthe yarn.

It can be seen from the enlarged detail and somewhat exaggerated view ofthe toothed discs operating upon a fabric, as indicated-in Figure 2, theteeth 38a come into contact with the web at an angle to the surface ofthe web and the teeth are forced into the web iand penetrate it. Theteeth also leave the web at an angle and tend to pull and work on thecomponent yarns. The

teeth are so small that they tend to operate not only upon theindividual weft yarns but also actually enter between the fibers makingup the warp yarns. This operation causes a loosening and readjustment ofthe yarns and in view of the fact that the roll 35 is travelling fasterthan the web. in the zone e there is a consequent shoving together ofthe warp yarns as well as a compacting operation on the weft yarns whichare gripped by the teeth. It may well be that the actually increasedcrinkle induced into the warp yarns by my shrinking when considered inconnection with the .readjustlng and reconstituting of the componentyarns by the' penetrating and working action of acteristics.

by delivering the web, as indicated in Figure 1,r

the une teeth er the toothed m11. It should be also exert a similaraction in that they pull on the yarn components and tend to bring abouta readjustment.

I have found that it is possible to obtain from 5 to 12% contraction orcompression warpwise with an averaged operation of my toothedcompression roll upon the web as described. Of n this 4 to- 5% may bedue to the readjustment of the yarns in view of the piercing, pulling,loosening, readjusting, compressing and related workactions on theindividual yarns and their fibers by the operation of the working roll35. Another 4 or 5% may be due to an actual increase in crinkling, thatis, an actual increase in the number of crinkles per inch and possiblyin the amount of angularity. It is possible, of course, to obtain anincreased amount ofl working and compressing action by increasing thedifferential between the surface speeds of the roll 35 as against thespeeds of the upper roll 27 and the supporting surface 23. In such casethe roll 35 sh'oves the web forward to an even greater degree than it isbeing removed in the zone e and a greater compacting and working of theweb'results. For example, I have carriedout a compressing operation l inwhich the surface lhas been diminished approximately 20%. The upperlimit of such action is the point at which the differential becomes sogreat that the cloth can no longer take care of the readjustment butresists to such an extent that the teeth of the discs on the roll 35, orother means, tear the fibers and yarns of the web.

The web is delivered from the zone e to a means for setting the web inits pre-shrunk warp and weft dimensions and which means delivers the webas a fabric having desired finished char- This is accomplished in myprocess to a position between endless carrier bands which hold the webwithout imposing any strain upon it in carrying it around drying cans41. 'I'he web is' tightly retained while drying between these canvasbands and is delivered in a dry, smooth condition. The surface velocityof the bands is the same as the surface velocity of the roll .27

`and the supporting surface 23 so that the web -pressing the webwarpwise by proper adjustment` of the speed of the roll 35 to thespeedof the web. Another arrangement, for example, the

4modification of my apparatus indicated by Figure 6, may be used toavoid this difficulty. In this apparatus the web is at no timeunsupported but is carried by canvas band 54 directly from thecompression zone y to the drier 56. The speed .at which the web travelsthrough my apparatus is limited substantially only by the dryingcapacity of the series of drying'cans 41. These cans may be heated bysaturated steam at 10 to 15 pounds pressure and at temperatures of 225to.,235 F.

The web may travel at a rate of from 30-to 60 eraticns. Such a step hasusually been necessary previously in pre-shrinking devices due to thefact' .that the sizing in its original moist conditionupon .the web wasfound to clog the apparatus used and torender it inoperative or at leastmaterially reduce its eifectiveness within a relatively short period. Mypre-shrinking apparatus is unaffected by the size in the web from thepreliminarysizing operation. In fact, in compressing certain heaviermaterials in which a maximum amount of size is desired, my process has'been found etlicacious in incorporating size into the material. This isdue to the working action of the roll 35 upon such material. While inthe specific modications described I have shown the sizing operation asan important element thereof in View of thev fact that itrenders the webin a plastic condition for effective pre-shrinking operation, it shouldbe appreciated that other plasticizing means may be substituted for thissizingA operation. For example, although my process is particularlyeffective in making a pre-shrinking operation a part of the finishingoperation, it is possible to carry out my process upon a finishedmaterial which has been moistened to a degree sufficient to render itsomewhat plastic and yet not to a degree to destroy the commercialfinish. Also, in certain cases I have found it is possible to obtainsatisfactory results when operating upon a fabric in a dry conditionwithout the necessity -of a preliminary softening operation.

While I have described only specific forms of my process and apparatus,I do not wish to be -limited .thereby for it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that other modifications may be made which would'notdepart from the spirit of my invention. I have found that' by means ofmy process I am able to rapidly and with a minimum number of'operationsconvert a fabric to a pre-shrunk condition. Also my process permits theobtaining of a fabric n which the pre-shrunk condition can be evenlyadjusted in both dimensions and avoids a fabric in which the amounts ofpre-shrinkage in each direction are not proportional. This mechanicallyimposed pre-shrunk condition simulates the type of fabric resulting froman actual laundering operation due 'to theworking imposed upon forfabrics, which tend to shrink upon launder-v ing. It should'be notedthat by means of my process I am able to obtain a positive and delicatecontrol in imposing the pre-shrunk conditions which control can beeasily adjusted to give the desired results and adapted to the fabricprocessed.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for treating cloth comprising a web feeding means, aplurality of web retaining means adapted to prevent surface flexure ofsaid web, a web gripping means operating through the surface Aof one ofsaid web retaining means, and means for driving said web gripping meansat a greater surface velocity than the web normally travels between saidweb retaining means.

2. n apparatus for treating cloth comprising a webcloth feeding means, aplurality 'of web y.

retaining means adapted toprevent ,wrinkling operatingl through thesurface of one.of said web retaining means and vpositioned tov act uponthe web intermediate said web feeding means and 'of said web and actingon said web'subsequent to said web feeding means, a web'gripping meanssaid web 4retainingy means, means for driving a.

web retaining means, means fordriving said web gripping means, andmeans'forsetti-ng said web.

3. An apparatus for treating cloth' comprising means for rendering thecloth web in a plastic condition, a plurality of web retaining means actng on said web subsequent to said plasticizing means and positioned oneach'side of said web `to substantially prevent formation of surfacemeans and positioned to act upon the Webinter-` mediate said webplasticizing means and, said web retaining means, means for driving saidweb working means at a greater surface velocity thanv that of said web,and means for setting said cloth.

4. An apparatus for treating cloth comprising a cloth web 'feedingmeans, a plurality of web retaining means positioned upon opposite sidesof said web and adjacent portions of their sur- -faces forming a zonewithin which surface undulations of said web are substantially avoided,a web workingl means operating through the surface of one of said'webretaining means and positioned to act upon the web intermediate said webfeeding means and said web retaining means, means for drivingfat leastone of said web retaining means, means for driving' said web workingmeans at a greater surface velocity than said web retaining means, andmeans-for setting said web.

5. An apparatus forl treating cloth comprising a cloth web feedingmeans, a plurality of web retaining means having a portion at least oftheir surfaces contiguous 'to form a retaining zcne through which saidweb passes, said pluralityl of web retaining 'means comprising a rolland a supporting band lying against said roll, .a web working meansoperating through the surface of said supporting band, means fordrivingv said roll and said supporting .band at identical surfacevelocities, means for driving said web working means at a surfacevelocity greater than that of said roll and supporting surface, andmeans for setting said web.

6. An apparatus for treating cloth comprising cloth web feeding rolls,means for rendering the 1 web plastic, cooperating web retaining meanscomprising an upper resilient roll and an endless supporting bandadapted .to lie contiguously about said roll over a portion of itssurface whereby aretaining zone is formed about said web adapted toprevent wrinkling of the same, a web working roll operating through thesurface .of saidendinto a position between said bands, and means fordelivering said finished web into suitable containers.

7. An apparatus for treating cloth comprising a web feeding means, meansfor stretching the web vWeftwise, a plurality of web retaining meansadapted to prevent surface flexure of said web,

a web gripping means `operating through the surface of one' of said webretaining means, and means for driving said web gripping means at agreater surface velocity than the web normally travels between said webretaining means.

8. An apparatus for treatingcloth comprising a cloth web feedingA means,a web weft stretching means, a plurality of web retaining means adaptedrto'preventwrinkling of said web and acting on said web subsequent tothe web feeding means,

a web gripping means operating through the surface of one of said webretaining means and po.-

sitioned to act upon the web intermediate saidV web weft stretchingmeans and'said web retaining means, means for driving a web retainingmeans,

means for driving said web gripping means, and means for setting saidweb.

9. An apparatus fo'r treating cloth comprising.

- .a cloth web feeding means, a web weft stretching means, a pluralityof web retaining means having a portion at least of their surfacescontiguous to form a retaining zone through which said web passes, saidplurality of web retaining means `comprising a roll and a supportingband lying against said roll, a web working means operating through thevsurface of said supporting band, means for driving said roll and saidsupporting band at identical surface velocities, means for driving said-web working means at a surface velocity greater than that of said rolland supporting band, and means for setting said web.

10. An apparatus for treating clcth comprising 'cloth web feeding rolls,means for stretching the web weftwise, means for rendering the webplastic, cooperating web retaining means comprising an upper resilientroll and an endless supporting band adapted to lie contiguouslyabout-said roll over a portion of its surface whereby a retaining zoneis 'formed about said web adapted to prevent wrinkling of the same, aweb working roll operv ating through the surface of said endlesssupporting band and positioned to act upon. the web intermediate saidweft stretching means and-said upper roll and endlesssupporting band,means for driving said upper roll and said/endless supporting band at anidentical surface velocity,

means for driving said web working roll at a surface velocity greaterthan vthat of said upper roll and said endless supporting band, a seriesof drying cans, two endless bands moving around said drying cans and incontact therewith, means for delivering said web subsequent to saidupper roll and said supporting band into a position be.

tween said bands, and means for delivering said finished web intosuitable containers.

11. An apparatus for treating a fabric ccmprising a fabric web feedingmeans, retaining means positioned at each side of said web to.

the velocity of theweb between said web retaining means, and means forsetting said web in its treated condition.

l2. An apparatus for treating a. fabric comprising a fabric web feedingmeans, retaining means positioned at each side of said web to form aconfined zone for said web wherein surface undulations are prevented,said retaining meansv comprising a roll and a supporting structurehaving open spaces therein extending longitudinally with the movement ofthe web, a web working means intermediate said web feeding means andsaid web retaining means, driving means for said web feeding means,-said web working means and means in said confining zone, said webworking-means being adapted to be, normally driven at a surface velocitygreater than the velocity of the web with said confined zone.

13, An apparatus for treating a fabric comprising a fabric web feedingmeans means for plasticizing said web, a roll positioned against saidweb, a supporting structure positioned on the opposite side of said weband against said roll whereby a zoneof confinement is formed about saidweb, a web working roll intermediate said web feeding means and saidroll and supporting structure, said working rollacting through thesurface of said supporting structure, means for driving said web feedingmeans, said web working roll and said web retaining roll, said workingroll being adapted to be normally driven at a surface velocity greaterthan the velocity of the web in the zone between said roll and saidsupporting structure, and means for setting said web in its treatedcondition.

14. An apparatus for treating a fabric comprising a fabric web feedingmeans, retaining means positionedwat each side of said web to form aconiinedfzone through which said web passes and wherein surfaceundulations of the web are prevented, a web working roll intermediatesaid web feeding means and said retaining means adapted to work throughthe surface of one of said web retaining means, said working rollhaving' web penetrating projections for gripping and Aworking said web,driving means for saidl web feeding'means, said web working rollandssaid web retaining means, said web working means being adapted to benormally driven at a surface velocity greater than the velocity of theweb between said web retaining means, and means for setting said web inits treated condition.

15. An apparatus for treating a fabric comprising a fabric .web feedingmeans, retaining means positioned at each side of said web to form aconfined zone for said web wherein surface yundulations aresubstantially prevented,` a web working roll intermediate said webfeeding means .and said web retaining means and acting on the webthrough the surface of one of said web retaining means, said web workingroll comprising a series of spaced thin toothed discs adapted to actupon the individual yarn components of said fabric web, means fordriving said web feeding means, said web working roll and said webretaining means, said working mea-ns being adapted to be normallydrivenat a surface velocity greater than the velocity of the web betweensaid roll and said supporting surface, and means for setting said web inits treated condition.

16. An apparatus for treating a fabric comprising a fabric we feedingmeans, retaining means positioned at each side of said web to form aconfined zone for said web wherein surface undulations are prevented, aweb working means intermediate said web feeding means and said retainingmeans, said retaining means cooperating directly with said web workingmeans to inhibit surface undulations in said web andV to retard in saidconfined zone the delivery of said web from said web working means,driving means for said web working means, said web working means be'-ingadapted to be driven at a surface velocity different than thevelocity of the web between said web Aretaining means, and means forsettingV said web in its treated condition.

17. An apparatus for treating a fabric'comprising a fabric web feedingmeans, means for stretching the web weftwise, retaining means positionedat each side ofv said web to form a confined zone through vwhich saidweb passes and wherein surface undulations of the web are prevented, aweb working roll intermediate said web weft stretching means and saidretaining means adapted to work through the surface of one ofa said webretaining means, said working roll having webV penetrating projectionsfor gripping and working said web, driving means for said web feedingmeans, said web working rolland said web retaining means, said webworking means being adapted to be normally driven at a surface yopposite sides of said web, means for driving at least one of saidretaining means at the same surface velocity as said web, a web grippingand working means intermediate said web feedingA means and said webretaining means, said web retaining means cooperating with said webWorking means to inhibit the formation of surface un- I dulations insaid web, said web gripping and working means being adapted to lie incontact with and positively grip said web, means for driving said webgripping and working means at a greater surface velocity than that of'the web intermediate said web retaining'means, and means for settingsaid web.

19. An apparatus for treating cloth comprising cloth web feeding rolls,means for rendering plastic said web, a plurality of web retaining meanspositioned adjacent to and on opposite sides of said web, means fordriving at least one of said web retaining means at the same surfacevelocity as that of said web, a web gripping and working meansintermediate said web feeding rolls and said web retaining means, saidweb gripping and working .means being adapted to lie in contact with andpositively grip said web and having a surface adapted to act upon theindividual yarn components of said cloth web, means for driving said webgrippingA and Working means at a greater surface velocity than that ofthe web between said web retaining means, and finally means for settingsaid web in its treated condition.

said ,web retaining means, said web gripping and Working roll operatingthrough the surface of said open spaced supporting web retaining means,said working roll having web penetrating pro- Jections upon its surfaceadapted to act upon the individual yarn components of said cloth web,means for driving said working and gripping roll ata greater surfacevelocity than thatof the web between said plurality vof web retainingmeans; and means for setting said web in its treated condition.

21. An apparatus for treating cloth comprising` a web feeding means,means for stretching the web weftwise, a plurality of web retainingmeans positioned adjacent to and on opposite sides of said web, meansfor driving at least one of said retaining means at the same surfacevelocity as said web, a. web gripping and workin'g means intermediatesaid web weft stretching means and said web retaining means, said webgripping and Working meansrbeing adapted to lie 4in contact with andpositively grip said web, said web retaining means cooperating with saidweb working means to inhibit the formation of surface undulations insaid web, means for driving said web gripping and working means at agreater surface velocity than that of the web intermediate said webretaining means, and means for setting said web. f

22. An apparatus for treating cloth comprising a web feeding means,means for stretching the web weftwise, a plurality of web retainingmeans positioned adjacent to and on opposite sides of said web, one ofsaid web retaining means having longitudinal openings extending in thedirection of the movement of said web, 'means for driving at least oneof said web retaining means at the same surface velocity as said web, aweb gripping and working roll intermediate said web weft stretchingmeans and said plurality of web retaining means, said web gripping andworking roll operating through the surface of said open spaced webretaining means, said working roll having web penetrating projectionsupon its surface adapted to act upon the individual yarn components ofsaid cloth web, means for driving said working and gripping roll at agreater surface velocity than that of the web between said plurality ofweb retaining means, and means for setting said web in its treatedcondition.

23. In a fabric treating apparatus suitable for modifying thesuperficial dimensions of said fabric, rotating means for gripping andpenetrating the fabric, and driven fabric retaining means lactingsubsequent to said gripping means, said retaining means having a slowersurface veloci-' ty than said gripping means. v

24. In a fabric treating apparatus suitable for vmodifying thesuperficial dimensions of said fabric, rotating meansl for gripping andworking within the body of the fabric, and fabric retaining means actingsubsequent to said gripping means and having contiguous elements bearingupon opposite sides of the fabric, said retaining means having a slowersurface velocity than that of said gripping means.

25. In a fabric treating' apparatus suitable for modifying thesuperiiciaidimensions of said fabric, a rotating roll for gripping andWorking the fabric, said rollhaving a surface adapted to penetrate thefabric and act "upon substantially individual yarn components thereof,and driven fabric retaining means acting subsequent to said workingroll, said web retaining means having a slower surface velocity thansaid working roll.

26. In a fabric treating. apparatus suitable for modifying thesuperficial dimensions of said fabric, a means for rendering said fabricin a substantially plastic condition, means for stretching the fabricweftwise, rotating means Vfor subsequently gripping and working thefabric, and

V for modifying the superficial dimensions of afabric, a fabricplasticizing means, a means for stretching the fabric weftwise, arotating roll for subsequently gripping and `working'the fabric, saidroll having fabric penetrating projections upon its surface adapted toact upon substantially individual yarn components of said fabric, anddriven fabric retaining means acting subsequent to said working rollpositioned on opposite sides of said fabric and operating contiguously,said retaining means having a slower surface velocity than said grippingmeans.

28. The process for treating cloth comprising rendering the same in asoft plastic condition and subsequently performing a series ofworkingop'- erations on said cloth web to permit a readjustment of thecomponent yarns to a condition adapted to minimize change in dimensionsduring a subsequent laundering operation, said working operationscomprising tensioning the cloth web weftwise-"and subsequently whilefree from tension subjecting the individual yarn components of the webto a shoving, loosening and pulling action whereby the warp yarns areloosened and readjusted and compressed along their length and the weftyar-ns are also readjusted and shoved together in closer parallelrelationship, retaining the cloth web during and immediately subsequentsuch readjusting.y operations in a condition toprevent surfacewrinkling, and finally subjecting the cloth web to conditions wherebylit is set in its readjusted pre-shrunk conditionf, v

29. The process` for treating cloth comprising rendering the same in asoft plastic condition and i subsequently performing a series of workingoperations on said cloth web to permit a readjustment f the. componentyarns to a condition adapted .tominimize change in dimensions during asubsequent laundering operation, said operations comprising relievingthe web from tensional stresses and subjecting the individual yarncomponents of the web to a shoving, loosening and pulling action wherebythe warp yarns are loosened and readjusted and compressed along theirlength and the weft yarns are also Aread- .iusted and shoved together incloser parallel relationship, retaining the cloth web during andimmediately subsequent such readjusting operations within a zone inwhich wrinkling of the surface of the web is prevented. f

30. The process for treating cloth comprising sizing the cloth to renderthe same in a soft plastic condition and subsequently performing aseries of working operations on said cloth web to pulling action wherebythe yarn components are loosened and readjusted and compressed alongtheir length and the weft yarns are also readjusted and shoved togetherin closer parallel relationship, retaining the web during andimmediately subsequent such readjusting operations in a zonewhereinsurface wrinkling is prevented, and nally subjecting the clothweb to conditions whereby it is set in its readjusted pre-shrunkconadapted to minimize change in dimensions during a subsequentlaundering operation, said working operations comprising tensioning thecloth web weftwise and subsequently while free from tension I subjectingthe individual yarn'components of the web to a shoving, loosening andpulling action whereby the warp yarns are loosened and read- `iusted andcompressed along their length and the weftlyarns are alsoreadjusted andshoved together in closer parallel relationship, retaining the cloth webduring and immediately subsequent such readjusting operations in acondition to prevent surface wrinkling and nally subjecting the clothweb to conditions whereby it is set in its readjusted preshrunkcondition.

32. The process for treating cloth comprising performing a series ofworking operations on said cloth web to permit readjustment ofthecomponent yarns to a condition adapted to minimize change insuperficial dimensions during a subsequent laundering operation, saidworking operations comprising stretching the cloth web weftwise,delivering said cloth web to a zone wherein warp and weft tension of thecloth web is relieved, and within said zone subjecting the individualyarn components of the cloth web to a working action within the body ofthe web whereby4 the warp yarns are readjusted and compressedlongitudinally and the weft yarns are readjusted and shoved togetherintocloser parallel relationship, retaining the web within the zone toprevent surface-wrinkling and subsequently subjecting theclotliiwebmwhile still relieved from tension to drying condition wherebyit is set in its reconstituted pre-shrunk condition.

33. A process for treating cloth comprising per- -forming a series ofworking operations on said cloth web to permit readjustment of thecomponent yarns to a condition adapted to minimize nents of the clothweb to a working action within the body of the web whereby the warpyarns are readjusted and compressed longitudinally-and. the

-weft yarns are readjusted and shoved together into closer parallelrelationship, retaining the web within the zone to prevent surfacewrinkling and subsequently subjecting the cloth web while still relievedfrom tension to drying condition whereby it is set in its reconstitutedpre-shrunk condition.

34. A process for treating cloth comprising performing a series ofworking operations on said cloth web after the same has been rendered ina plastic condition to permit readjustment of the yarn components to acondition adapted to minimize change in superficial dimensions' during ai ing condition whereby it is set in its reconstituted is relieved andsubjecting the yindividual yarn components of the cloth web to a workingaction within the body of vthe web whereby the warp yarns are readjustedand compressed longitudinally and the weft yarns are readjusted andshoved together into closer parallel relationship. retaining the webwithin the zone to prevent surface wrinkling and subsequently subjectingthe cloth web while still relieved from tension to drypre-shrunkcondition.

35. A process for treating cloth comprising peruforming a seriesof.working operations on said cloth web after the same has been renderedin a plastic condition to permit lreadjustment of thel component yarnsto a condition adapted to minimize change in supercial dimensions duringa subsequent laundering operation, said working operations comprisingapplying atension to said web warpwise whereby the vweb is diminished ina weftwise dimension, stretching the cloth web weftwise, delivering saidcloth web to a zone wherein warp and weft tension of the cloth web isrelieved, and subjecting the individual ,yarny components of the clothweb to a working action 'within the body ofthe web whereby the warpyarns are readjusted and compressed longitudinally and the weft yarnsare readjusted and shoved together into clor parallel relationship,retaining the web within the zone to prevent surface wrinkling andAsubsequently subjecting the cloth web while still relieved from`tension to drying conditions whereby it is set in its reconstitutedpre-shrunk condition. g

36. A process for imparting to a fabric a re-l arranged condition ofyarn components simulating a shrunken condition resulting from alaundering operation while producing a fabric having a nish, comprisingrendering said fabric plastic, stretching the fabric weftwise anddischarging it with a minimum of web tension into a retaining zone freefrom "web tension, gripping the yarn components of said web subsequentto said weft stretching and forcing them toward said zone at a greaterrate than the passage of the web through said zone while inhibiting theformation of surface undulations in said web, delivering the web fromsaid zone to a second retaining zone free `from web tension and settingtherein the component yarns of the Vweb in their rearranged positions.

37. A process for imparting to a fabric a rearranged condition of theyarn components simulating a shrunken condition .resulting from alaundering operation while producing a f'abric having a nish. comprisingsizing .said fabric whereby it is rendered in a plastic condition,stretching the fabric weftwise and discharging it with a minimum of webtension into a retaining zone free from web tension, gripping the yarncomponents of said web subsequent to said weft stretching and forcingthem toward said zone at agreater rate than the passage of the webthrough said zone while inhibiting the formation of surface undulationsin said web, delivering, the web from said zone to a second retainingsone free from web tension and setting therein the component yarns ofthe web in their rearranged positions.

38. A process for imparting toa fabric a rearranged condition of yarncomponents simulating ashrunken condition resulting from a launderingoperation while producing a finished fabric comprising rendering saidfabric plastic and discharg-` ing it into a retaining zone free from webtension, gripping the yarn components of said web and forcing themtoward said zone at a. greater rate than the passage of the web throughsaid mne while inhibitingthe formation of surface undulations in saidweb, delivering the' web through-said zone to a second retainingzonefree from web tension and setting therein the component yarns of theweb in their rearrangedpositions.

39. A process for imparting to a fabric a rearranged condition of yarncomponents simulating a shrunken condition resulting from a launderingoperation while producing a fabric having a finish. comprisinglrendering said fabric plastic, imposing a warpwise tension .upon saidfabric, stretching vthe fabric weftwise and discharging it with aminimum of web tension into a retaining zone free from web tension,grippinglthe yarn components of said web subsequent to said'weftstretching and forcing them toward said zone at a greater rate than thepassage of the web through said zone while inhibiting the formation ofsurface undulations in said web, delivering theweb vfrom said zone to asecondgretaining zone free from web tension and setting therein thecomranged condition c f the yarn components such that subsequentshrinking of said fabric upon laundering operations is materiallydiminished, comprising renderingsaid fabric in a plastic condition,loosening, rearranging and shoving the yarn .components within the bodyofthe web and forcing` said web toward a retaining zone free from webtension at a greater rate than' the passage of the web through saidzione,` delivering the web through said zone to a second retaining zonefree from web tension, and setting therein the yarn componente ofthe webin their rearranged position.

41. AA process for imparting to a fabric a rearranged condition of yarncomponents whereby shrinking upon subsequent laundering operations issubstantially avoided, comprising loosening and` rearrangingthe fiberscomposingthe warp yarn components of said web while simultaneouslyshoving-said warp yarns forward in the direction of 130 movement of saidweb to decrease the length of said warp yarns while increasingvtheirdiameters.- and immediately discharging said web into a confinedretaining zone wherein'surface flexure of `r .l said .web is prevented.135 42. In a fabric treating apparatus suitable for modifying thesuperficial dimensions of said Q fabric, gripping 'means for workingwithin the body of the fabric and retaining means operating immediatelysubsequent and adjacent to said grip- 14o ping means operative topreventsm'face flexurel of said fabric and further operative to retardthe las . A. WOODHEAD. 145

